The Washington critic., 1887-06-16
WASHINGTON, JUNE 10, 1887.
THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE - ITS
DUTIES AND DANGERS.

We can well understand the feeling
Of the several Citizens Associations of
the District in regard to their immedi-
ate local interests and the disposition
of each to look out for It's own, rs of
more direct importance that the inter.
ss,s Of its neighbors. This is human
nature.
But these associations, on the prin.
Ciple that in union there is strength,
have chosen delegates to o central
committee. representing the entire Dis.
trict and so constituted as to act to.
re,her In behalf Of the common wei.
fare. They have pooled their issues,
as II were, for the express purpose of
carrying greater weight and command
ing greater consideration, than could
possibly be carried or commanded by
single assocla,inn operating on Its
own account; and the Central Com
mittee has done well iu the adoption of
a rule prescribing that all business, In
whatever part of the District origI
mating, shall be transacted and passed
upon by that body.
The question came up at Tuesday
nights meeting on the communication
addressed to the School Board Of Citi
zens Association No. 4, and after a
somewhat warm contention, 1t was de-
Cided in effect, that this was matter
which should properly be submitted to
4 ha tSaa tt,lA haf Iat
proceeded with, and so with all COM
plants and inquiries coming within
The legitimate province of the commit
Tee TO consider.
Otherwise the very object Of the
organization Is sure TO be defeated. 1t
was designed that the Central Commit.
tee should stand for the people of the
District. Being an exponent Of p)pu.
lar sentiment, Its recommendations
and requests could not fail to catch the
ear Of Congress and the local authori-
ties, and were certain not to be ig.
nored. On this theory and this under.
standing, the Committee of One Hun.
dred was finally selected, and on this
theory and understanding 1t must act,
or all the time and trouble heretofore
expended In Its formation have been
worse than was,ei.
If the functions of this committee are
TO be usurped by individual members
for the furtherance of schemes OF their
own, regardless of the opinions and
independent Of the sanction of their
associates, the committee parts with
the influence anl dignity that now
attach to 1t, ceases TO be of practical
service and goes 10 pieces.
That's the plain English of 1t.
To make 1t efficient the members
must pull together as by one impulse
and suggestion, under one common
head, by one central authority and sub
ject to one common discipline,
1t is only through the committee as a
unit that anything eau he done. Th4
associations composing the committee
nre constitutlonally united, which, Us
we all know, means good deal more
than au ordinary confederation. This
committee will always make itself
heard, while nobody will pay any at
tention to the action of its several sub.
ordinate divisions. This Is already
obvious.
The School Board says 1t will gladly
listen to the Central Committee, but
wants nothing to do with Association
No. A. Why2
Because the former Is supposed to be
representative body, expressing the
feelings and wishes Of citizens at large,
while the latter is skirmishing outside
of the lines without orders and repre-.
senting only itself.
Let the various local associations then
content themselves with instructing
their own delegates, and through these
delegates place their wants and griev.
ances before the Central Committee, to
be in turn by this organization placed
before Congress and the local govern.
ment. II each association undertakes
to act for itself none will get hearing,
and confusion worse confounded will
shortly supervene, undoing the good
work that has just been completed aud
Ielegating the District 10 worse con
fiiion than ever. The committee can
lot be too firm and vlgilant in guard
ing against the danger of insubordIna,
ton aud internal dissension.
As FOR the "rebel flags" let then
go to the States whence they came
To those who bore them they may bl
priced mementoes; To the General Gov
ernment they are yalurless--worse tha,
valueless. Trophies that signify vic
tories of Americans over Americans II
a civil war have no place in the publ,
departments when the war Is over ant
temporarily divided people are re
united again. Why psrpetuate tn
remembrances Of II family quarrel tht
Is all over aud amicahly settled? Wer
they flags of England, or Germany o
France-memorials that signified on
proves as nation nglinst toreig
foe-ihe case would be different A
1t is We can't see any great harm in LEI
ting the South have the tattered ensign
that she lost in a fratricidal strife, q
which the battle.fields have long sine
been plowed under and sowed to tn
fruit of peace.
A JURY In the Jacob Sharp case ha
been secured at last and the openin
argument for the prosecution was be